Material Information

Titanium Dioxide (or Titania) exists as the mineral Rutile, one of its three crystalline forms, but 95% of Titanium Dioxide is commercially produced. Having a low electrical conductivity, it is used as an electrical insulator at room temperature. The electrical resistance of Titanium Dioxide is sensitive to the gaseous environment, so can be used as oxygen sensors. Due to its high refractive index and lack of absorption of visible light, Titanium Dioxide powder is used as a white pigment for paints, plastics and paper. It is easy to produce at the size required (around 0.2 microns) and is stable and non-toxic. Current research is looking at its use as a catalyst for the elimination of nitrogen oxides in power station exhausts and at utilising the photocatalytic properties as a photoanode in the splitting of water.